Yu Darvish could cost the Rangers as much as $121.7 million in the end.

The Rangers and Yu Darvish had a 30-day window to work out a contract. They wound up using 29 days and more than 23 hours to get a deal done.

Darvish agreed to a six-year, $60 million contract with Texas shortly before today's 5 p.m. EST deadline, ending that saga and perhaps paving the way for Prince Fielder to finally sign with some club after a long winter of speculation.

But first, the details of Darvish's deal. He receives the largest package ever handed to a Japanese player, topping the six-year, $52 million contract Daisuke Matsuzaka signed with the Red Sox in 2007. That's on top of the record $51.7 million posting fee that will go to Darvish's former club, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

So that makes the total cost to acquire Darvish $111.7 million … except, there could still be more. The deal includes up to $10 million inRead more »

Interesting…Let's hope this gets things moving again, one way or the other. I would love to see PF a Nat, but won't lose any sleep if he isn't. I think any moves the Nats may be thinking about depend on settling the PF question. It is the proverbial fork in the road.

[Revised after computer-enhanced reprocessing; updated version]Scott: Hi, Mike? We'll take it.Mike: Take what?Scott: The offer.Mike: What offer was that?Scott: The one Mr. Lerner made a couple of weeks ago. Six years, $175 million.Mike: Scott, you know Mr. Lerner said that offer was only good for 72 hours.Scott: Yeah, yeah, but that's still your position, right?((Editor's note: Muffled sounds, possibly coughing or laughter))Scott: Did you just laugh at me?Mike: No, no, Scott. Of course not. I'll have to get back to you in a couple of days on this, Scott, but I'm not sure Mr. Lerner will be willing to go that long for that much. Hang tight, Scott.

I've got to believe that Darvish's signing will actual slow things down — not speed them up — in the Fiedler sweepstakes. If you assume that Fielder and Boras will now rethink their approach, moving from 8-10 years down to something like 6 years (with or without an opt-out clause), they will want to convey that not just to the Rangers, Nats, and Mariners, but to virtually the entirety of MLB. And that may well generate some interest that hasn't previously been there, which could lead to an extended period of chats, call-backs, and eventually negotiations. This could well drag on for another two or three weeks.

What is wrong with me?!? I've been against Fielder as a Nat from the start. But I checked the Insider to see if Darvish was signed…I'm in a restaurant in Sausalito, a hushed-quiet- we- are-civilized-as-we-drink-the-wine place– and I just let out a yell to see the Rangers signed him. Because in my covert little heart, that gives US a chance at having TWO Princes: one on first, and one in OppoBoppoland. I guess I have to admit I want us to win the sweepstakes.

Can Texas afford Prince after forking over so much money for Darvish? Depends who you ask. Though some in the baseball world have believed there was no way the Rangers would sign both superstars, local beat writers insist it's still a possibility.______________________________Of course it is a possibility. It will also mean if the Rangers were to get Prince they don't re-sign members of their core like Josh Hamilton and maybe Cruz.Even the Yankees can't get them all.

Q: Any more acquistions?Jon Daniels said, "I don't expect that we'll do anything big the rest of the off-season."Q: What are your chances of signing Prince Fielder? [laughter]Jon Daniels said, "It's very unlikely."

Hamilton can play CF barely and only if you're OK with the guy missing as many games as he plays. The guy has to be in a corner where he can have a better chance to stay healthy. I would not touch that guy. Injuries, off field rama. All that talent is something special but he's a lightning rod for drama. We really need the speedy, get on and run wild, great glove CF anyway. Werth and Harper are not going to be elite fielders.

Gonat, understood. We'd all like Matt Kemp. But if Texas takes Fielder and doesn't sign Hamilton to a long-term extension (he has said if he doesn't get an extension he won't talk contract with them until the season is over–shades of Pujols–) would you take him for 2013, assuming he returns to his career norm?

NatsLady, I don't think Fielder fits Texas right now which is whey Boras should've done a 1 year deal for Prince to stay in Milwaukee for $23 million to get Texas, Dodgers, in the mix.Jon Heyman's Big 3 for Prince is Nats, Orioles, Texas. Acronym is NOT for Orioles. Yes, they have talked but no way would he go there and be within a losing culture.Bill Ladson says Nats and RZim NOW talking contract extension!!!!!!!!! EXTENSION!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Morse is at ESPN doing photo shoots. Do the Nats realize that he is their most marketable player based on personality, likeability and on-the-field performance????Zim and Stras and JZim are semi-introverts. Michael Morse is an extrovert.I would pay for Morse to live in DC and get him and that Bryce Harper (extrovert) guy in the off-season marketing for the Nats.

For once I hope Ladson is right!!!! SIGN RZIM! and Morse too please! GOD I CAN'T WAIT FOR REAL GAMES TO START! I may actually break down and sign up for MLB radio so I can listen at work during spring training to games (any games at this point!)

Anon8.. I think they do since they are selling a Beast Mode Mini Plan.. They should actually, you know.. shoot commercials and put them on stations other than MASN.. and oh. have them talk to the local Sports station.. say one Nats Insider for CSN.

NatsLady,There's been lots of chatter on this site about Fielder's long-term health, all based on his weight/physical fitness. I would actually worry more about Hamilton's addiction demons (what someone above euphemistically calls 'drama') when considering long-term, multi-million-dollar contracts. I hope he stays clean and healthy, but addictions are difficult to overcome and keep at bay. To answer your question, if given the choice I'd take Fielder. If the Rangers take Fielder and Hamilton becomes available in 2013, he would not be on my list of FA targets.

I wonder what kind of deal Z'man would sign for. Many have said Z'man would be getting paid 20mil or more, but honestly I don't think his stats justify that. But naturally as teammates, Z'man would think, "I am worth as much as Werth".I am sure for Z'man, their starting point of negotiation is the salary that Werth is getting at $18mil/yr. Considering Tulowitzki got $19mil/yr for 7 yrs, I think a contract in the range of Werth's($126mil/7yrs) and Tulowitzki's($134mil/7yrs) would get the deal done for Z'man. Mr. Rizzo, let's get it done! Oh, yeah… landing the PF flyer in DC would be nice too.

I felt like I needed to go to bat for Ladson. Never done that before and I got Kilgore all riled up:@AdamKilgoreWP @washingnats Every day they keep talking its progress. AK – if u knew they were talking, how come u didnt post it when u knew@AdamKilgoreWP: @NatsHR2Win Check my story from back during the season. I wrote they've had "constant dialogue," or something to that effect.

Hey Gonat – I think you must have been partly responsible for this one, too. Feels a little bit like Broadcast News, doesn't it? I have to say, I think being a reporter in today's instantaneous and never ending information stream would be pretty tough duty.@AdamKilgoreWPSome followers took my last tweet as a shot at @washingnats. Not at all my intention. Not a shot. Perils of 140 characters. He's a pro.

DH, but Kilgore says its been on-going. Hoping this is a heated up version but as a huge supporter of Zim he doesn't deserve Tulo or Braun money as MLBTR has made the comparison. A few bucks more than Werth sure but Zim has to realize what he really is and has been.

My take on all the offseason activity is that Team Rizzo is displaying a lot of patience, and I like it. Team Rizzo didn't panic after Beurhle signed with the sartorially challenged Fish, and didn't need to show cards early in the Darvish Derby, and is in no hurry to make a splash to sign PF. The results? A younger, harder throwing lefty for less money, for more years. Darvish signs with the Rangers, who may have sweetened their posting bid if they thought the Nats were bidding, leaving the Rangers unwilling to spend big on PF. Now that leaves a big, fat, alleged-vegetarian slugger as low-hanging fruit. Nice.

Wally, I got into it once with Ladson. His post way back about Oswalt as the target when it was clearly Buehrle was just bad. Bill has a good heart. He just needs to know what is going on before he writes it.

Baseballswami, here's what I think it is. Our fans watch him for all of his starts and since he doesn't pitch with flair and style points and doens't have a great heater, he doesn't get the love. How many times has he been called a soft tosser here?Soft tossing Livo got more love. I wasn't a fan of Lannan's until 2011. He came into the season in great shape and a new attitude. If he got run support, his numbers would have been better. Some people talk about his luck and BABIP and don't give him credit for improving.

I just assumed the whiners were talking more loudly than the fans. If you're seriously having trouble finding the Lannan love, you can find it here. He's a very good 4th/5th. Very solid 5/6 inning pitcher to combine with Rodriguez, Clippard, Storen for a chance to win. If he ever learns to pitch against Philly as effectively as he pitches against Atlanta, he could be a solid number 3.

One more thing about John Lannan, aside from the fact that he has paid his dues with the nats in the really, really, bad years — I have heard repeatedly that lefties bloom later than righties. Add that to the lack of run support on this team and I just don't think he has finished growing as a pitcher yet. No, he's not going to win the cy young or be an all-star, but he can have a solid career.

Agreed, Lannan has beat his peripherals for enough innings to figure he has the ability to maintain an above-average performance despite not really having an out pitch. He seems like a stand-up guy who takes responsibility. I think if he ever developed a change-up that was a few miles an hour slower, or improved his command, he'd be able to go deeper into games and get more respect. When his sinker is on, he's pretty solid.

I am a John Lannan fan but the truth is that he is a bullpen killer. Apparently he can't be trusted to last past the sixth inning. If Lannan is the chief catalyst in wearing out Clippard and Storen, is he really worth keeping?As for Texas and Darvish, it would seem likely that the Rangers will not get their money's worth. I can't remember one Japanese pitcher that performed as hoped.

Binx, can you imagine the current alternatives – Detwiler, Gorzelanny, Maya, Stammen, etc. as inning eaters worth keeping in the seventh inning instead of one of the bullpen guys when a tough matchup happens? I can't. They're going to carry at least two long relievers, it shouldn't be an issue unless the team is actually leading in the late innings an awful lot more than I expect, and if that's the case, maybe Lannan deserves a bit more rope since the team is scoring him runs.

They already have a lefty long relief specialist in Gorzelanny who was pretty effective. They have a righty in Craig Stammen.Lannan is odd man out likely traded or optioned to AAA since he unlike Detwiler and Gorzelanny still has one. He's too expensive to trade until the middle of the year, then he might make a good fill-in after injuries. There is no doubt Davey Johnson won't have any qualms about cutting Lannan taking the best 25 players north.

Decided to compare Innings Per Start between Lannan and Roy Oswalt, a potential signee. Lannan from 2007 to 2011 has logged 5.78, 5.87, 6.25, 5.73 and 5.60. Oswalt from 20005-2011 has been 6.91, 6.90, 6.63, 6.52, 6.04, 6.62 and 6.04. Even if Oswalt pitches in the low Sixes next year he'll be better than Lannan in every season except possibly 2009. Roy Oswalt will likely pitch one-half and inning per start than Lannan. So is signing Oswalt worth it?

I wonder how terrible Michael Morse was as a defensive infielder coming up through the minors. If he could handle second base even in "Beast Mode" (think Dan Uggla), it would really open up some options for the Nats to sign Prince Fielder AND add a true center fielder.Imagine this lineup Opening Day 2013:CF – Michael BournRF – Jayson Werth3B – Ryan Zimmerman1B – Prince Fielder2B – Michael MorseLF – Bryce HarperSS – Danny EspinosaC – Wilson Ramos